Shock absorber



June 30, 1925. 1,543,978

A. F. BLACK SHOCK ABS ORBER Filed Oct. 3,1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June, 30, 1.925.

A. F. BLACK SHOCK ABS ORBER Filed Oct. 5, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 wf/vm@ JJ@ Patented .lune 30, 1925'.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR F. BLACK, 0F SELBY, CALIFORNIA.

SHOCK ABSORBER.

Application filed October 3, 1923. Serial No. 666,338.

automobile to absorb shock and to resiliently support the spring and the weight carried thereby.

My present invention is directed primarily to a device of the character described which is particularly adapted for mounting in connection with the rear axle housings and Asprings of Ford automobiles and trucks, whereby the absorber may be installed' in. connection with the standard fittings of thej automobile without impairing the normal operation of the spring.

kThe primary ob]ect of my invention isl to provide an improved shock absorberV adapted to absorb vibration and to increase the resistance and resilience to shock.

device of the character described embodying improved features of construction. and

arrangement adapted to facilitate installation and to increase the effectiveness of theV springs. v A further object is to provide an improved device of simple and rugged construction'` which may `be manufactured and mounted upon an automobile at a nominal expense.

I accomplish these and other objects by means of the device disclosed in the draw-V ings forming a part of the present specifica tion wherein like characters of reference are used to similar parts throughout said specification and drawings and in which Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of a portion of an automobile showing lthe manner lin which my improved shock absorbers are mounted in connection with the rear axle and spring thereof.

Fig. `2 is a rear elevation, partly in vertical section showng upon a larger scale the manner in which the shock absorber is secured in connection with` the axle and spring. c Y

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device as shown in Fig. 2.

'which are normally secured to perches mounted adjacent the ends of the axle in a well known manner.

In my present invention, I replace the usual spring mounting with a resilient mounting consisting of a cylindrical body 4 having a longitudinally disposed extension 6 adapted to be rigidly secured upon the drum at the adjacent end of the axle housing 2 in place of'the usual spring perch. A laterally disposed extension 8 is formed upon the body opposite the extension 6. A brace 9 is rigidly secured between the extension 8 and the axle housing 1, the upper Vend of the brace being secured to the extension 8 by means of a bolt 11 while the opposite end of the brace is bifurcated to form a seat 12 resting upon the axle housing. The ends of the bifurcations are apertured f to receive a bolt 13 by -means of which the Another object is to provide an improved brace is clamped onto the axle housing. A laterally disposed extension 14 is formed upon the brace 9 for a purpose hereinafter more fully explained.

A plunger 16 is slidably mounted within the cylindrical body, said plunger having a stein' 17 extending outwardly through an opening 18 in the bottom of the body. A spring 19 is mounted above the plunger between said plunger and a removable cap 21 threaded onto the top of the body 4. A similar spring 22 is mounted below the plunger 16 between said plunger and the bottom of the body. The outwardly extending end of thestem 17 is connected by means of l a shackle 23 to the adjacent end ofthe leaf spring 3, the standard shackle with which the spring is equipped being merely shifted to secure the spring to the stem in place of the usual spring perch.

The edges of the plunger 16 Vare made spherical and the opening 18 made sufficiently large to permit a slight pivotal movement of the plunger and stem within the body 4. A pair of arms 24 are pivotally connected between the end of the stem 17 and the outer end of the extension 14 which is formed upon the brace 9, said arms serving to hold the plunger and stem in substantial axial align* ment :with the cylindrical .portion of the body il" when the plunger 'is moved in"l either direction against the resistance ofthe springs Y 19 and 22. i

In operation, shockabsorbers are mounted in connection with both ends of" t-h'eleaf s rinor 3 and the axle housino' as, above described. The spring 3 andthe weight of the automobile which Vis normally carried there on will'now beV resiliently supportedfby the foi ` 'dom and range of movement is-obtained plunger-s 16 andthe springs When now any shock is encountered when the automobile is4 in motion theplunger willy first be 'moved' within the body 4 against the 'resist ance of the springs 19 and 22, both of which I arenormally compressed fto a slight degreeto :maintain the plunger in balanced positionwithin the body' 4. Thelesser 'shocks Yand the ordinary vibration occurring when the automobile is in motion will thus .be directed upon the absorber springs and will be taken up without materially flexingthe main leafspring 3.' lWhen greater shocks occur the main leaf spring 3 is flexed in the downwardly againstthe resistance of the lower spring 22' by a downward movement of theframe and body of thev automobile, t-he return movement retarded 'by the action 'ofthe upper springs 19, in thismanner slow-Y` ingV downthe reaction of theflexed springs and y preventing -the annoying snap back which commonly occurs.

By connecting the mainV spring vshackle to the stein 17 'in' place of the rigid spring perch commonly provided, -a greater freewhich resultsin `a more 'effective action of .smoother operation;

the main spring which is added to the re? Vsilience of the absorber` springs togive a- The' arms 24 move mountingsto maintain the stems insubstantial alignment with theibody 4 of the shock absorbers, the slight arcuate movement of' K Vthe en'dsfofthev'arms being compensated for by permitting a slight pivotal move nient of each plungerwand stem within, the

body. IThis arrangement is 'iinportantfor 'the reason thatit insuresagain'stbinding between the stems 17 and any 'portion of the body, and relieves the body portion ofthe absorber of any appreciable side thrust.

The absorbers upon jop'posite sideof the automobile mayA operate independently in to'steady the body of the automobile and A, Agprevent the side sway which frequentlyl occurs, said'springs v19 'and'22'com'bining to 'Y plunger "about their pivot.V

resist a downward movement upon either side yofthe,automobile and an upward move Y visintended.` primarily for use in connection withfthe rear springs of Ford automobiles,

and has been described only in this connection, it is of course subject to modification in various' ways to accommodate the device to other types and maires of automobiles. li therefore do not wish to restrict myselfto the specific disclosure Vherein' contained, but desire to avail myself ofsuch modifications as 'may fall within the scopelkof the appei'ided4 claims.

` Having thusdescribed my invention what l claim as newandLk desire to'secure Letters Patent is: 1. A shock absorber 'comprising a cylin- VVdrical Vbody having an extension formed fupon one side :thereof and' adapted to be rigidly secured upon an Aaxle of an automobile; a brace adapted to be rigidly secured between the axle and an extension formed jupon the opposite side of the body, a plunger y,slidably mounted within the lc lindrical body; springs'mounted aboveand" elow the plunger; a stem connected with theplun r ing end ofthe stem 'to the adjacent'end of 'a Vleaf spring Vofthe 'automobile whereby N said Spring and the weightfvcarried thereby Yand extending outwardly from theibo y; 4*means for connecting the `outwardly extend!" aresupported abovethe axle;'anda pair of A arms' pivotally "connected between the y ex` tension Aformed upon the brace andthe outer end ofl the'stem for V"gi'iidingithe stein and when moved against the resistance of either spring.

shock absorber comprisingiacylin-l drioalbody having an extension vformed upon one side V'thereof and Aadapted Vto be rigidly connected upon the axle of an automobile; a brace having Aone` end thereof"A rigidly secured to an extension formed upon" the n opposite side vof the body,I said d brace having a laterally' disposed extension and -having'a seat'arranged to be Aclamped upon the axle; fa plungerslidably mounted with-1, 'in the cylindrical body; springs 'mounted :above and below the plunger; a 'stem connected 'pto the plunger and extending outc wardly from the body; means connecting the outwardly extending end of the stem to" .the adjacentendvof a leaf spring rof, the

automobile whereby said spring and the weight carriedv thereby aresupported `above the axle; and a pairof arms pjivot'afily connectedl between the outwardly extending endl i A d n d I of thestein and the lateral extension formed opposite dlrecti'ons'with respect tothe shock" y i absorber springs 19 and 22' which yoperate' upon the brace 'for guiding the Vmovement of the 'plunger and stein when movedjagainst A shock comprising a ico adapted to be rigidly secured upon an axle of an automobile and also having a laterally disposed extension upon the side opposite the lirst mentioned extension; a brace rigidly secured between the lateral extension and the axle, said brace being provided with a laterally disposed extension and having a seat formed by bifurcations adapted to be clamped around the axlea plunger slidably mounted withinthe cylindrical body; springs mounted above and below the plunger; a stem connected to the plunger and extending outwardly through the bottom of the body; means connecting the outwardly extending end of the stem to the adjacent end of a leaf spring of the automobile whereby the spring and the weight carried thereby are supported above the axle; and means pivotally connected between the outwardly extending end of the stem and the lateral extension of the brace for guiding the stem and plunger when moved against the resistance of either spring.

4. A shock absorber comprising a cylindrical body having a longitudinally disposed extension adapted to be rigidly secured upon an axle of an automobile and also a laterally disposed extension formed upon the side opposite the first mentioned extension; a brace rigidly secured between the lateral extension and the axle, said brace being provided with a laterally disposed extension and having a seat formed by bifurcations adapted to be clamped around the axle; a plunger slidably mounted within the cylindrical body, said plunger having spherical edges adapted to permit a slight pivotal movement of the plunger within the body; springs mounted above and below the plunger; a stem connected to the plunger and extending outwardly from the body; means connecting the outwardly extending end of the stem to the end of a leaf spring of the automobile whereby said spring and the weight carried .thereby are supported above the axle; and a pair of arms pivotally connected between the outwardly extending end of the stem and the lateral extension of the brace for guiding the stem and plunger when moved against the resistance of either spring.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my signature.

ARTHUR F. BLACK. 

